Increased Access to Transportation

November, 2001

Lexington, KY: Four Lexington neighborhoods got new wheels today thanks to a collaborative arrangement between Rep. Ernie Fletcher, LexLinc (Lexington Local Investment Commission) and the Community Action Council. Working together, Fletcher and the local agencies have secured four vans, one each for four Lexington communities.

“These vans will enable four Lexington neighborhood empowerment centers to extend much needed services to more members of their communities,” commented Fletcher.

“The Cardinal Valley, East End, Gainesway, and West End Empowerment Programs will each receive a key to a new van for use by neighborhood groups and residents under the supervision of these empowerment programs,” said Don Ball, President of the LexLinc Board of Commissioners.

“By combining public and private efforts, each empowerment program will be equipped with a new van, providing a valuable resource for the neighborhoods and residents of Lexington,” said Don Ball, President of the LexLinc Board of Commissioners.

“This means better connections and access to needed services and appointments,” said Abdon Ibarra, Immigrant Services Coordinator for Lexington Fayette Urban County Government. “We can respond more promptly, including in emergency situations.”

Community Action Council will hold title to the vans, which will be leased to LexLinc for $1 a year for five years. LexLinc will include allowances for insurance, gas and maintenance. After the leases expire, the vans may become the property of the empowerment programs. Each van was purchased for $21,000. Rep. Fletcher secured matching funds for Community Action Council through the Department of Transportation. Barkham, Inc., a nonprofit arm of Ball Homes, provided matching funds from the community.

“It’s a blessing to have the transportation,” said George Moorman, Director of the East End Empowerment Program. “It helps extend our services beyond the immediate area.”